Buying APAP w/ CPAP prescription on cpap.com!!

echo · Post by **echo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:39 pm

I just realized (I am a newbie), thanks to rested gal (THANK YOU THANK YOU RG for this info!!!), that one can buy an APAP on cpap.com with a CPAP prescription only!!! Doh! In my half sleep deprived state (only half, not full... this treatment really works ) I hadn't realized this.

So this is for any other newbies who also didn't know this, and have a few extra $$$ to spend.

Rested gal wrote:If you decide (and can, financially) buy your machine from an online store like cpap.com instead of from a bricks and mortar local DME (home health care store that carries "durable medical equipment") then the Rx you have now for "cpap" will let you buy an autopap online. You won't have the aggravation of dealing with the doctor's NP who "won't let you have an autopap" and won't even have to try to talk her into letting you see the doctor himself.

From : viewtopic/t22928/Im-kinda-new-to-cpap-a ... lease.html

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:22 pm

I don't right now... but if it comes to that, I will purchase one the next time I get my tax refund.

amandalee · Post by **amandalee** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:09 pm

If I can't get the stupid DME to give me an auto, I might have to do this...

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:11 pm

Yea, my thoughts as well! They ripped the one I had for a trial period right out from under me today! (Can you tell I'm still bitter?)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:18 pm

I guess I was just lucky with my first DME experience. I basically told them which machine I wanted and demanded to know what it would cost to rent vs. me paying outright w/insurance. Renting would not cut it as a machine would be four times as expensive as buying with cash. They said, ok, buy it with insurance. I did and then told them which machine I wanted, no discussions.

Folks need to keep in mind that they are paying for the insurance and making the copays, not the DME. I reminded my DME of that the first time we talked and haven't had a problem since.

flylow · Post by **flylow** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:38 pm

I couldn't get a straight cpap with full data capability from the two dme's I tried in NJ. The one dme that I liked and seemed reasonable argued with respironics about getting a card reader. They would not sell it to him. He said that respironics was complaining about the prices that companies like cpap.com sell for. They are trying to price fix their products! The dme said go ahead and order it on line, I am not going to be able to help you.

You guys are not kidding about these companies wanting to keep us out of knowing the details of OUR therapy. Fortunately, cpap.com is willing to sell it. The crap we have to go through. If cpap.com stops selling it, I know that I would be able to get my doctor to order it and then obtain it via that route. The absurd lengths that these people force us to go through!

I have a great sleep doctor that is very supportive of my intent to be involved in my therapy. Why wouldn't he be? What is wrong with these cpap equipment manufacturers? My M series pro with cflex and heated humidifier arrives tomorrow. My first sleep study was June 1 and I will finally get started with cpap therapy on Aug 9. I am sure this is not a record but it is a ridiculous amount of time. I start with a pressure of 9 cm.

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:43 pm

Insurance would not pay for a replacement of a machine that still works but is not appropriate for my needs, so I have purchased two slightly different machines from CPAP.com. My prescription simply reads "CPAP 7".

First I got what was always intended to be my backup machine, a Respironics M-Series Plus with C-Flex. A couple of months later I purchased a Respironics M-Series Auto with A-Flex. Both machines were purchased using the same prescription. No problems.

The backup machine was purchased with a humidifier that works with both machines. The Plus is a pretty basic machine, no data, straight CPAP, or CPAP with C-Flex.

The primary is fully featured, full data (but the software is hard to find), straight CPAP, CPAP with C-Flex, AutoPAP, AutoPAP with C-Flex, or AutoPAP with A-Flex.

For the first purchase I sent a FAX of the prescription, when it came time for the second purchase I simply made a reference to my earlier purchase using the order number in the comments box and the transaction went through without a hitch.

Roadie

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, humidifier, cpap.com, C-FLEX, CPAP, Prescription, auto

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